 dedicated to the strength of the nation we hail yes proudly we hail starring Richard Denning in the common touch the United States Army and United States Air Force presentation and now here is our producer the well-known Hollywood showman CP McGregor thank you very much and greetings from Hollywood ladies and gentlemen welcome to your theater of stars for those famous names of the silver screen join us in plays we know you'll enjoy our star is Richard Denning the title of our story the common touch we'll have the curtain for act one in a moment but first here is your announcer with this message young men and women here's your opportunity for an important new career in aviation today's best deal for the aviation beginner is in the United States Air Force no experience is needed and you earn good pay while you learn the Air Force will give you the best aviation technical training opportunity for steady advancement security and good retirement benefits if you're 18 to 34 17 with parents consent find out today how you can begin this important new career get full details at your nearest US Army and US Air Force recruiting station now once again our producer the curtain rises on act one of the common touch starring Richard Denning as dr. Christopher hazard tucked away in a very small corner of Pennsylvania Susquehanna like a thimble in a sewing box with the tiny village of Groton it was a village that stirred nostalgic thought somehow of half forgotten things of an apple eaten beneath a tree a glass of cool spring water of flowers in an old brown jug and winds murmuring of an old Dutch legend at such a place in come-up lane a shingle swung and croon to itself on rusted hinges and pronounced in faded letters that within the weather board cottage one might find dr. Christopher hazard dealer in colics and pains abrasions and contusions dark hazard if you're thinking to move the Queen doc you can't do without putting yourself in check me see and sitting there with your chin and your hands won't bring about a miracle as the saying goes dark here in a bad spot recollect having seen much worse spots now you take measles for example are smallpox those spots are known angus as the rash of variella and have three stages propomal vestibular and pustular are you playing chess doc or teaching me the profession playing chess to be sure angus never do you mention bad spots so I'll move my night here which levels you like the trumpets did the walls of Jericho checkmate my friend oh that was a dirty underhanded trick dr. hazard or my name isn't angus mclean yeah you've been dodging around the board like a bird with a broken wing and I thought I had you all your gibberish about sports yeah well the next game will be different well I should pop over to see Janie Gibson angus I told her I would after tea oh that's it run away with my 25 cents oh you're a canny man doc oh I should think you're shameful defeat would be sufficient for one night Angus I'll have you know there's no man nor beast can beat the Scots you've no doubt heard the story of Robert the Bruce oh yes I do recall something about him a Scott wasn't he dark undiscussed oh yes sure I remember a Scott indeed he was once in a cave like you're now in a hole and a spider saved his life will you fetch my coat angus and if anyone calls I'll be back in an hour all one angus I noticed a spider in the rose heads this morning a big fat one you might go ask him what he knows about chess I'm awful scared I am I've never been so scared in my life scared of what Janie of becoming a mother Janie you're a silly little goose there's not a thing in the world to be afraid of and your right is rain now look at it this way Janie it's a miracle the oldest and the newest one in the world babies have been born since the beginning of time millions of them every second of the day your own mother had seven of them Janie of which you were one but what I don't know of course you don't but I do now now you just dry your tears that's and think about the day when he takes his first step and maybe falls down and bumps his head you'll have to kiss it better or maybe that wonderful tug in your heart when he says mama for the first time what gracious Janie he'll be in school before you know it coming home with skin knees and a black eye how do you know it's gonna be a he I don't know rightly but wasn't that the order Timothy Gibson the second it's got a nice ring to it Janie sounds exactly like a United States president well that makes two of us now you snuggle down and get 40 wings well you know with all this flesh you'll have Timothy having the baby instead of you and then I'd have to send clear to Philadelphia for a specialist I wouldn't know what to do Mrs. Wimble I'll be blessed if I know how you do it how I do what Dr. Hazard how you managed to keep looking so wonderfully young a person would swear you weren't a day over 35 they'd never dream you were in your early 40s Phil Stix you know I'll be 58 come July no bless me if it ain't the truth I wouldn't be given my age away if you wasn't no doctor a girl has to keep a secret you know well I wouldn't have believed it Mrs. Wimble and what brings you to my surgery oh say doctor it's my headaches again you know I feel something dreadful yeah and I think my liver's kicking up too I do I really do I get that short of breath you know my leg swells up and I sort of get the blind staggers well you've got enough complaints to stock a hospital Mrs. Wimble oh I'm a sick woman Dr. Hazard you know I'm down to 212 pounds isn't that awful yeah maybe I ought to take some huh yes yes I think you should I'll send angers over in the morning with some pills oh my what kind of pills Dr. Hazard oh something very special but there's only one thing Mrs. Wimble oh what's that Dutch ale oh it do you drink much Dutch ale Mrs. Wimble well you know it has me a sip once in a while you know these these pills I'm sending you they wouldn't mix with Dutch ale no well say what happens oh any amount of dreadful things oh my goodness yes but but then you have nothing to worry about if you don't take any well good night Mrs. Wimble Angus will be over the first thing in the morning are you quite sure you've not gone daft well only reasonably sure Angus why first the bees are swarming with the queen thinking to lead them the Lord knows where old patients hasn't had his oats and you're sending me to Mrs. Wimble with sugar pills blood pressure Angus blood pressure behind why doc are you so dead set on that bilious Mrs. Wimble tune on sugar pills that you let the house fall apart to see that she gets them why because they might do her some good Angus you wouldn't believe the symptoms she's got headaches upset liver short breath loss of weight no appetite what no appetite now I know you've gone down maybe she's no more sick than I am and I'm very well indeed but Grant and she's as sick as a goat what good good sugar pills do Mrs. Wimble isn't sick Angus she drinks too much Dutch ale you see she's lonesome since her husband died and she's sorry for herself and I can't see what an imposing array of symptoms Angus and if a few sugar pills and a few kind words from me will make her feel any better then I'm as glad as I would be if she recovered from bubonic plague and anyway her consumption of Dutch ale will drop I think a little you see Angus a doctor only deals with cause and effect and the cause doesn't have to be a germ or the effect of fever sometimes the cause is up here in the mind and the effect telephone doctor telephone something's always spoiling my lectures just when I get going to hello yes doctor has it where all right I'll be there immediately and don't try to move him right Angus hi doc there's been a bad car smash on Bauer Road get a harness on old patients while I pack my kit Mrs. Wimble sugar pills will have to wait I'm a doctor miss are you all right no he's not Mrs. Proctor would you be good enough to invite this young lady to your house for a cup of tea but we'll have to get this man to surgery I'm not going to leave my father please please you can't help here and you might be hindering now come along my dear I'll fix your nice cup of hot tea there's a good girl Simpson make a bed in your cart all the hay and quilts you can manage Angus you help him hey doc is he hurt bad fractured skull I think maybe smashed up inside come on Angus move man move hi doc on the double Mrs. Wimble and her sugar pills the common touch starring Richard Denning to bring you an important message from our government high school graduates for a job with a real future get into aviation now United States Air Force offers you unlimited career opportunities under the new airman career program you'll be trained in the job for which you are best suited and have the best chance for success you'll get good pay right from the start free room and board free clothing and equipment free medical and dental care free retirement plan this is your big opportunity look into it today get full details at your nearest U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Recruiting Station certain rises on act two of the common touch starring Richard Denning as Dr. Christopher Hazard not since perhaps the signing of the declaration as the tiny sesquihanna village of Groton suffered a shattering of its drowsing piece is on the day of the car smash in the Bauer Road on that cardinal day the eyes and the ears of Groton were focused on the weather board cottage over which a shingle swung and croon to itself shamefully callous to the tense excitement within the cottage on the examining table of Dr. Hazard a man lay quietly on the edge of the black pool beyond the surgeon's door in the sitting room a girl waited doctor how is my father he's worse no no he's no worse at the moment however I find it necessary to be quite frank miss I don't think I know your name Craig Althea Craig my father's Mr. Denham Craig of Philadelphia miss Craig your father's condition is extremely serious to to be very blunt his hold on life at the moment is rather precarious what is it basal skull fracture depressed which means that part of his skull is causing pressure on the brain what are you going to do the only thing I can do miss Craig operate at once operate you how could you operate on my father you're only a village bumpkin doctor I know but you see miss Craig there's little choice in the matter send for a specialist send to Philadelphia get my father to a hospital the nearest hospital is Paisley and your father can't be moved I would gladly send for a specialist miss Craig if there was time but there isn't this is an unfortunate case of your father living or dying by the grace of God and what a little I know I'll require your permission very well Dr. Hazard even though I don't believe you know what you're doing however if what you say is true and if my father dies you'll have killed him shall we let accusations wait for a cause miss Craig Angus Angus where you want me yes I want every pot and pan in the house full of boiling water and I mean boiling Angus and then whistle over and bring miss Wimble back here sponge miss Wimble this Wimble are you all right a little faster than that's right small plant no no a small one from the side of the tray slow up the ether angus it should drip not poor can you wipe my forehead with a sponge miss Wimble yes thank you now give me the elevator that gadget fine easy Angus easy easy does it Dr. Hazard well I'm not sure of course Miss Craig but I think we can see the edge of the woods that's right that's right miss Craig cry it out I've never been so frightened in my life I had a couple of frights myself what was Angus trying to drown your father in ether Mrs. Wimble near fainting on me every two minutes when can I see him when he's awake tomorrow perhaps we've put him to bed in the surgery for the time being or you'll stay here of course miss Craig oh no I couldn't do that Dr. Hazard I'll go to the end Groten's in burn to the ground about to the time of Benjamin Franklin we've never gotten around to rebuilding it but I think you'll find it comfortable here miss Craig Mrs. Wimble staying on for a few weeks a few weeks I'm afraid your father won't do much navigating in the very near future and now what do you say to a pot of coffee and about a million raised biscuits I'm practically starved I thought we agreed to amputate the tougher and make it just Chris all right then Chris much better we'll be leaving tomorrow yes been trying to think of some way to say thank you but there aren't any words the past four weeks of just knowing you was more than sufficient thanks out there you know I've grown very fond of you have you Chris that's strange why because we seem to have so very much in common you see Chris I've grown very fond of you too do you mind if I ask how fond of you no I don't mind I think the Greeks had a word for it they called it love do you really mean that of course I do silly or I wouldn't have said it life does become involved doesn't it why Chris because I happen to love you too Althea inconsistent little beggar that Dan Cupid inconsistent country bumpkin falls in love with lovely wealthy Philadelphia debutante you way up there me way down here don't say that Chris it's not true afraid it's quite obvious Chris it doesn't matter where you are of where I am all roads lead to Rome and I'm going to Rome oh Chris please come with me Chris you not only have my permission to marry Althea but my sincere parental blessing oh thank you very much mr. Craig oh no thank you very much you see Chris a short while ago you saved my life and it's a privilege to give you part of it as a brief payment I'm very pleased Chris and I think you'll both be very happy you should do well in Philadelphia my boy Philadelphia sir of course you surely don't intend to remain here I couldn't leave here mr. Craig but there's Althea to consider Althea she's not accustomed to a small village Chris a weatherboard cottage oh there's nothing wrong with it but Althea has always been used to nice things feminine frills and in society her own circle of friends I couldn't open a Philadelphia practice if I wanted to mr. Craig money I'm making you kids a paltry wedding gift Chris $10,000 and I believe that money should work I can think of no greater work than yours Chris for her sake as well as mine and your own and the people that really need you think it over give it a try darling you look perfectly scrumptious turn around so I can see you better Althea I feel like a blasted nincompoop a frock coat striped pants they make you look older my sweet and more professional professional oh dearest I'm only Christopher Hazard MD and all this father all in scenery won't add or track from what I know my patience and Groton didn't care whether I wore overalls or a Hindu turban I know it Chris but the rest of the world doesn't and success depends upon a front window for display now kiss me and run along to your office and don't forget the valence party tonight everybody who is anybody will be there and maybe they'll all adopt my charming husband for their doctor wouldn't that be wonderful Mrs. Crofton may I present my husband as well how do you do my dear doctor I've heard so much about you in fact I've been thinking of coming to see you I've been feeling so dreadful lately the most beastly headaches and I wonder if well perhaps my liver isn't a bit out of tune once does doesn't one do you suppose it could be anything serious doctor I haven't the faintest idea Mrs. Crofton and I'm sure neither the time nor the place is fitting for a consultation if you'll make an appointment with my nurse I'll be glad to give you professional advice not social chit chat of course doctor has it please forgive me who is how could you Mrs. Crofton's one of the wealthiest women in Philadelphia I don't care if she's got three heads hypochondriac oh I'll see I've got to get out of here I can't stand it you stay and come home later I'll take a cab oh no darling I'm rather bored too if you're ready I'll go with you the doctor come down for breakfast yet doctor has a left quite early this morning madam early this morning did he have a call no madam he he left this letter for you a wise man once said you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear and by the same token I think can I become something which I'm I'm still a village pumpkin and my place is still among the windows and the prowlers of Crofton the people need me as I need them I'm hiding this to spare you the anguish of goodbyes we knew you'd be back doc I put a new coat of paint on the shingles and now this is a secret but the villagers are going to have a party for you oh doc it's good to be playing chess we again well yes thanks angus but I must say doc you're out of practice yes yes indeed I am and look at that board will you you're in a trap and you've lost your queen oh boy she patient just when I had your beat shall I see who it is doc no thanks I'll go good evening dr. Hazard Althea it must be after always doctor but I'm suffering a dreadful pain right here in my heart do you know of any cure for it I'll see you darling what are you doing here I've come to join my husband you see he's the village doctor here but not now a wise man once said if you can walk with King and not lose the common touch I lost it Chris and I'm ever so grateful to you for finding it and giving it back darling Angus Angus hey doc what are you wanting me just wanted to tell you Angus don't disturb the chessboard we'll finish the game in the morning I've just regained my queen our star Richard Denning a return for a curtain call after this timely message from Wendell Niles high school graduates there's an important place for you in the US Air Force you can continue your education learn a trade get ahead and at the same time earn good pay the United States Air Force has openings for specialists in air transport aircraft maintenance research clerical administration radio and many other fields the Air Force will train you for one of these responsible jobs two kinds of training are open to you you can learn on the job under the world's most skilled experts or if you qualify you can go to the finest Air Force technical schools as vacancies exist you will find interesting work job security good retirement benefits and opportunity for travel this is your big opportunity look into it today get full details at your nearest Air Force base or United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station now once again at the microphone our star and our producer dick we've had the pleasure of working with your lovely wife Evelyn anchors and now with you here this makes it unanimous well you certainly make a person feel at home CP now I know why Evelyn keeps talking about you in your studio well tell her I hope she'll join us again soon and by the way I heard your radio show my favorite husband last Friday you and Lucille ball of a fine program well thank you CP but to have you any time left for pictures oh sure as a matter of fact I just finished the lie at Paramount with Barbara Stanwyck and John Lund oh yes I believe it's scheduled for release after the first of the year yes tell me how's that new Brentwood home of yours coming along all fine of course everything had to wait in the house until I got my hobby shop built that Evelyn keeps your busy making lamps balances and all the things a wife needs around the house oh she keeps me plenty busy and so does Dee Dee Diana Dee she's so cute how old she now five and going to school wonderful tell me does she still ride around in that red chariot seat and the friend of your bicycle yes but I'm taking the level stretches now no hill say CP why don't you and the wife come on out and see our place we will maybe we can pick up some good ideas from your hobby shop fine we'll be looking for you and Melton now tell me what's doing here with you next week our star next week dick and ladies and gentlemen will be lovely Barbara Britton and the title of our Christmas story my son is a wise man good we'll be listening so long CP goodbye dick you should have joined us next week ladies and gentlemen from Barbara Britton joins us in our Christmas story my son is a wise man until then thanks for listening and cheerio from Hollywood Richard Nannick here at the Paternity of the Hollywood Coordination Committee which arranges for the appearance of all stars on this program script was by Kimball S. Sant for the music of Eddie Dunstetter this program is transcribed in Hollywood for a lease at this time Wendell Niles speaking